Summary
Horror gaming doesn’t need to stick to tried-and-tested formulas to scare players. Sure, first-person POVs and chase sequences can make for a tense experience, but there comes a point when players want something different. More than any other genre, horror games need to keep players on their toes — predictability leads to lackluster scares.
This is why horror games that break the mold and try something different always deserve to be lauded. The innovation present in these games is palpable from the get-go, and elevates the experience for many horror fans.
From the moment players find themselves in Lisa’s house, which loops over and over again, they know they’re in for something special. This playable teaser was just an elaborate way to announce a newSilent Hillgame with Kojima at the helm, but ultimately transformed into something special.
Lisa’s jittery movements and the obtuse puzzles of this game further add to its unique horror.P.T.may technically be a lost piece of medianow after Konami delisted it, but the fact that fans still rave about the game to this day shows how much of an impact this teaser had on the gaming zeitgeist at the time.
After placing a focus on tank controls and fixed cameras for the first few games in the series, Capcom decided to go above and beyond with the fourth mainlineResident Evilentry. Leon Kennedy’s adventures in a Spanish village plagued by Las Plagas were mind-blowing back in the day.
This title featured a greater focus on action without losing its edge, and set the foundation that future third-person shooters would build upon. It’s easy to seewhyResident Evil 4is considered such an important game, and fans were glad to see the remake do justice to this title.
In an era when gaming HUDs and UIs were getting a bit too cluttered for most people’s liking,Dead Spaceshowed the power of immersion by making its critical gameplay elements clear without the need for a heads-up display. It seems like a simple change, but this was a huge part of what madeDead Space’s horror so effective.
The limb-cutting gameplay was also quite bold for its time. Players must hack off the limbs of necromorphs to incapacitate them before they can close the distance and tear Isaac apart, making for tense combat.
Gaming with friends is almost always a fun and relaxing experience. This is why people weren’t sold on the idea of a co-op horror game,butPhasmophobiashowed how wellthis genre amalgamation could work. Working together, players take on the roles of ghost hunters and must figure out the identity of a spirit before exorcising it. This gameplay loop makes for a surprisingly great time. The proximity chat adds to the tension, especially when players get split up and can’t hear their friends anymore.
Players who think horror games can’t be cute should giveOmoria shot. This amazing game hides behind a veneer of cuteness anddoesn’t show its psychological horror influencesuntil they can’t hide anymore. The protagonist loves to hide in his dream world, making it clear that there’s something he’s trying to avoid. To say any more would spoil one of the most unique and engaging horror games ever made, which is unlike anything else in the genre. It’s worth going into this one blind.
While it may not seem all that mind-blowing now, it can’t be stated enough just how revolutionaryEternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiemwas when it came out. It’s fitting thatthis was a Nintendo exclusive. This survival horror game boasted an ambitious narrative that took place across different timelines with multiple protagonists.
The most innovative thing about this game was its sanity effects, simulating the process of someone losing their mind in the most creative way possible. Seeing the game delete a player’s save files or reduce the volume made for chilling fourth-wall breaks that have become legendary in the years since.
Sunless Skiesisn’t as in-your-face as most games in the genre. The horror is more of a backdrop for a rich setting where humanity has taken to the skies. Players take the role of a sky captain who can pursue numerous goals in a wide-open setting that is full of things to do.
The writing in this game is top-notch, combat is vastly improved from its predecessor, and the environments will leave a lasting impression on players. There aren’t many horror games likeSunless Skiesout there. Players who foundSunless Seahard to get into won’t face the same problem with its masterful sequel.
WhenDoki Doki Literature Club!came out, no one expected a game that looked like a dating sim to turn into one of the most viral horror experiences players could subject themselves to. What looked like a feel-good game about joining a high school Literature Clubturned into a scene out of the player’s worst nightmares.
Over time, the game starts becoming more meta, and the main character transforms into a silent stand-in for the player as they witness the world being slowly torn apart. Even then, the characters in this game are so lovable that fans would do everything in their power to ensure that no harm befalls them.
